ICC positive for Nepal-Namibia match in Kirtipur

KATHMANDU: A team of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday hinted that Nepal could host the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Championship round-three matches between Nepal and Namibia in the nation.

As decided earlier, ICC Asia Development Manager Bandula Warnapura today visited the Tribhuvan University Ground, Kirtipur, and inspected it to ensure the ground and the buildings were fit to hold the match.

Following the repeated controversies over the Nepali cricket including CAN's authority issues, ICC was reluctant towards holding the match in Kirtipur. However, Warnapura told media that out of the two conditions ICC had put forward, one regarding the condition of the ground was approved.

It was said the matches could be relocated to Noida of India, but today's inspection showed no problem in hosting the match in Nepal, he added.

Though the renovation of the ground seemed satisfactory, he said security issues were yet to be addressed, stating that the inspection would be held on March 28 for the same. "We urge the Nepali spectators to control themselves and not pelt stones as it would be very difficult to host any match in such conditions."

ICC earlier had put forward two conditions - (i) an independent selection panel, including the national team coach and captain will select the Nepal team to compete against Namibia, with Asia Development Officer Venkatapathy Raju acting as an advisor, and; (ii) Asia Development Manager Bandula Warnapura will undertake an inspection of the Tribhuvan University Ground to assess its suitability to host the matches, while a local security plan will be developed for the assessment and approval of ICC - for the matches to be played here.

For the matches scheduled to be played on on April 16 and 18, ICC would prepare for and conduct the matches independently, it had said.

Nepal has already played two round-matches held in Scotland and Papua New Guinea consecutively and lost all of the matches there.